College - Author 1
College of Engineering
Department - Author 1
General Engineering Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BS in General Engineering
College - Author 2
College of Engineering
Department - Author 2
Biomedical Engineering Department
Degree - Author 2
BS in Biomedical Engineering
College - Author 3
College of Engineering
Department - Author 3
Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Department
Degree - Author 3
BS in Industrial Engineering
College - Author 4
College of Engineering
Department - Author 4
Biomedical Engineering Department
Degree - Author 4
BS in Biomedical Engineering
Date
6-2020
Primary Advisor
Jim Widmann, College of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Department
Abstract/Summary
The Surf Foot project was created to resolve the challenges faced by Dana Cummings, a former Marine and transtibial left leg amputee, while surfing. Dana is a competitive surfer who first picked up the sport after he lost his leg. He currently utilizes a carbon fiber prosthetic leg when surfing. However, this prosthetic is not ideal for Dana as he often slips while standing up on his surfboard. As such, Dana would like a new non-slip prosthetic leg so that he can further pursue his passion of competitive surfing. Our team, which consisted of four engineering students attending Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, was sponsored by the QL+ organization. Over the course of three quarters, we worked to research, design, manufacture, and test a prototype that would meet Dana’s requirements. After several months of brainstorming and conceptualizing, we designed a prosthetic leg made from five main components. These components include two pieces of carbon fiber which together serve as a leg, two rubber components intended to serve as a non-slip sole for the prosthetic, and an adapter that would allow Dana to attach the prosthetic to the socket he uses when surfing. Unfortunately, due to the closure of on-campus facilities that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic, our team was unable to complete the manufacturing and in-person testing of the prosthetic we designed. Instead, we compiled a list of in-depth instructions regarding the planned manufacturing process and testing of our design so that a future QL+ team could complete our project once campus facilities reopen. Although we were unable to produce a final product, our team is confident that our design will eliminate Dana’s problem of slipping while surfing, thus enabling him to further pursue surfing as a competitive sport.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/genengsp/7